Rail-joint



(No Model.)

W. J. MoOORD; RAIL JOINT.

Patented Sept. 8, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

WILLIAM J. MOCORD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,045, dated September 8, 1891.

Application filed December 15, 1890. Serial No. 374,701. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. M00031), a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Rail-Joint, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a rail-joint which is adapted to connect and preserve the alignment of a girder-rail and a groove-rail.

In the construction of street-railway tracks it is found advantageous to employ at the curves a groove-rail, while in the straight portions of the track the usual girder-rail is most generally employed. No simple and efficient means have been provided, to my knowledge, for j oining' the ends of these two kinds of rails, and their cross-sectional forms are so different as to make it somewhat difficult to provide a proper joint.

My rail-joint in the preferred construction has one end thereof bifurcated, the opening being vertical and adapted to receive the web of the girdenrail and the members having at their upper edges laterally-projecting flanges properly braced by an increased thickness of the metal toward the inner end of the opening, so as to support the head or tread of the girder-rail. The opposite end of the railjoint is flat-faced to form bearings for the under side of the groove-rail, and is provided with a depending flange or strengthening-rib and with side flanges to support the edges and furnish means for bolting the grooverail, While near the line of junction the metal is increased, in order to give the necessary strength.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rail-joint, showing in place therein the groove and girder-rail. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken from the opposite side, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the joint. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the same with the groove-rail in place and the girder-rail detached therefro1n,but shown in line with the opening.

In the drawings, A represents the girderrail, and B the groove-rail. The joint may be a steel casting or forged or pressed from steelplate, and one of its ends is divided vertically, the bifurcations having vertical webs C D, the former being provided with the curved flange c to receive the under side of the head a of the girder-rail, while the part D has the lateral straight flange b to support the tread a of the girder-rail. The web of the said rail enters between these bifurcations, and the lower edges of the latter rest upon the foot of the girder-rail and may, in order to give a more secure bearing thereon, be turned out, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. There is an increased thickness of metal on the under side of the flanges c d, the greatest thickness being toward the inner end of the opening, as shown at e. The end of the joint opposite the bifurcated portion is integral and has a flat bearing-face F, supported by the central vertically-disposed rib or flange f, and with an increased thickness of metal toward the meeting line of the rails, as shown at g. The bearing-head F is apertured for the passage of a fastening-bolt H, the head of which rests in a countersink in the bottom of the groove, and a nut h is turned on the lower end of the bolt, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. This bolt furnishes all the fastening necessary for connecting the rails securely together. It is intended that the joint shall be applied between the ties; but it might readilybe adapted to rest upon a tie.

The exact form of the joint is not essential, as modifications may be made thereof to adapt it to rails of slightly-different configuration, the novelty and value of the invention consisting in the provision of a rail-joint having one end thereof bifurcated and the opposite end adapted to support a groove-rail or other flat rail.

1. A rail-joint adapted to connect a girder or similar rail having a web, head, and foot with a groove-rail and consisting of a metallic joint-piece having an end thereof bifurcated, whereby to provide a vertical opening to receive the web of the rail, and the opposite end of said joint having a bearing-surface adapted to receive and support the grooverail, substantially as described.

2. A rail-joint for connecting a web-rail and a groove or other similarly-formed rail, the tion with suitable strengthening-flanges and same comprising a metallic joint-piece havapertured for the passage of a securing-bolt, 111g one end thereof bifurcated to provide a substantially as described.

vertical opening to receive the Web of the Web- XVILLIAM J. MUOORD. 5 rail and having lateral flanges to support the Witnesses:

head and tread thereof, and the opposite end FREDERICK C. GOODWIN,

of said joint-piece having a flat bearing por- N. M. BOND. 

